Problem
In 2003, the University of Virginia’s Black Alumni Weekend yielded the lowest number of attendees since the three-day event began 25 years ago; approximately 200 Black alumni participated that year in what has become a biannual event. U.Va. has approximately 8,840 living Black alumni.
Solution
Historically, Black Alumni Weekend had been coordinated by members of U.Va.’s Walter Ridley Scholarship Fund committee (named for the first Black graduate of U.Va.), which provides scholarships for Black students accepted to the university. As the task of planning the weekend became very time consuming for the volunteering committee members, the U.Va. Alumni Association offered its assistance and expertise in reunion planning.
“Working to bring together university groups and organizations with alumni volunteers is what we are about,” says Jason Life, director of reunions and class activities at the U.Va. Alumni Association.
U.Va. Alumni Association officials say a few key things helped reverse declining attendance:
